PARIAH (2011)

I really liked this movie too.

Pariah is a coming of age story and a coming out story. The film stars a black, gay, female teenager and her relationship with her family and friends. What I loved most about this film is that it exposes the complexities of the black community and the diversity of Black women. The protagonist, Alike, struggles to find herself and her identity in a world that expects her to conform to the “norms” of society. The time period is also important because open/ queer sexual preferences were not as accepted back then as they are today.

Watch the trailer!! And then watch the movie. 10/10 recommended by yours truly.

This coming of age film was incredibly empowering. To see Alike find her voice and “come out” to her family was so amazing. Mainly because for me, it represented strength and growth for the character and the society in general. A society must be ready to experience change in order to move forward, and while everyone won’t accept everything, it is important to allow people to be themselves and not feel trapped. More specifically as it relates to the black community and the black woman, the sexual identity is explored within the context of a gay woman. This is powerful because black women are constantly seen as sexual beings (to the man/ for the man), and I can’t help but wonder if men refuse to accept this sexual preference because they feel as though they are losing their “power”, “right” or place in society. Hmm 🤔

You know what I realized too? The titles of these films are so important. The fact that the film is titled “Pariah” which means an outcast or rejected member of society, can also symbolize many other black women who don’t conform to societal norms. Additionally, it represents a clear insight into how people who are deemed as different are treated in society. THEREFORE, JUST BY THE TITLE ALONE IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THE DIRECTORS WILL BE ADDRESSING AND PRESENTING INSIGHT INTO THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO FEEL REJECTED! I find it fitting, that the character is black, female and lesbian- given that these are the most rejected and abandoned groups in society.

As we discussed in class, the black female is basically a personal and psychological journey, as the protagonist finds a way to decide for herself what she wants in life and pave her own path of self acceptance and awareness. In this film, Alike becomes aware of society and herself and this knowledge is essential in the process of empowerment because it serves as the foundation for the next step. This next step can be in the form of breaking down barriers and stereotypes in the black, gay community, and paving away for eventual acceptance.

The narrative of a gay black woman exposes audiences to how diverse and dynamic the race can be. It exposes the idea that we (as black people) are not just one fixed group. The film also made clear representation of the flaws to our ways and the generalized stereotypes of gays as well. It was so easy for Alike’s mother (& the man the father had an altercation with) to suspect that she is gay, but no one suspected Bina to be gay. Alike exhibited certain “characteristics” or gay stereotypes or traits of being gay, and so that is how society saw her.

Bina’s character also exposes the diversity of the black woman. I could even go as far as to say Bina represents how society would want women to be seen, and she is Alike’s opposite. Bina is light skinned while Alike is dark, Bina is feminine and would be classified as “beautiful” while Alike is a “tomboy” and some might find her unattractive. And yet, Bina sneaks and hides things from her family just like Alike. Bina likes girls but is afraid to admit it, she asks Alike to not tell anyone that they slept together. Similarly, Alike lies about going to the club (to find girls) and she has two different appearances at school and at home.

This two sided perspective allows for the understanding of trying to hide the side of them that society doesn’t accept. This is usually viewed as being defiant by not complying to society’s norms. This idea has been challenged by Black feminist critics and from within the Black community including Black gays and lesbians who have criticized same sexual politics that deny their right to be fully accepted within the churches, families and other Black community organizations. The normalization of heterosexism is therefore challenged by gays being opened about their sexuality. Take for example Alike’s best-friend Laura. She was extremely open and honest about her sexuality. Her character represents those who are perceived as being defiant

The film ends with a beautiful poem by Alike. The poem makes mention of being “broken open” and this (to me) represents breaking down barriers and stereotypes and paving way for a new narrative for black women and the black community in general. In fact, I do believe that women in cinema (actresses and writers/ directors) encounters their own version of being shunned from society and not being able to access the same opportunities as their counterparts. Since it is true that life imitates art, the struggles represented by Alike are indeed similar to women in cinema and had it not been for their contributions today, women- black women would not have been fairly represented.

While it is not a film film (haha!) I was able to pin point similarities between this film and the series “How to get away with murder”. The main star “Annalise Keating” played by Viola Davis, is an adequate representation of black women, the way we are in society. In several interviews conducted about the series she makes mention of not wanting to fit inside a bubble or make herself smaller in order to fit the narrative that she was told to play. She decided it was important for her to be seen on screen without makeup of wigs, and to be as barefaced as the regular black woman. This representation allowed for black women everywhere to be able to see a character they could relate to. Viola Davis has won an Emmy award for this role and she has received worldwide recognition for constantly trying to “break open” and break through the barriers set by society.

I’m getting emotional. Check out the poem by Alike while I go dry my tears.

“Heartbreak opens onto the sunrise for even breaking is opening and I am broken, I am open. Broken into the new life without pushing in, open to the possibilities within, pushing out. See the love shine in through my cracks? See the light shine out through me? I am broken, I am open, I am broken open. See the love light shining through me, shining through my cracks, through the gaps. My spirit takes journey, my spirit takes flight, could not have risen otherwise and I am not running, I am choosing. Running is not a choice from the breaking. Breaking is freeing, broken is freedom. I am not broken, I am free.” Alike (Pariah)